Step 1: Installation and Initial Setup
Setting up Streamly has been engineered to be as frictionless as possible. Unlike traditional streaming software that requires complex dependency installations, Streamly is packaged as a standalone portable executable for Windows. There is no need to manually compile code or install heavy dependencies like Python or Node.js. However, because Streamly heavily relies on FFmpeg for video processing and encoding, you must ensure that a compatible build of FFmpeg is installed and properly added to your system's PATH.
- Download the latest Streamly `.exe` release from your provider or the official portal.
- Download a pre-compiled Windows build of FFmpeg. Extract the contents and add the `bin` folder to your Windows Environment Variables (PATH).
- Double click the Streamly executable to launch the application. On the first run, Streamly will automatically create the necessary internal database files (`streamly.db`) in the application directory.
Once the application launches, you will be greeted by the stunning dark-themed Dashboard. If this is your first time, the Gallery will be empty, and you will need to point Streamly to your video directory.
Step 2: Configuring Your Video Directory
Streamly operates on a "Watch Folder" principle. It needs to know where your video assets are stored so it can automatically scan and process them. This can be a local folder on your SSD or a mapped network drive connected to a NAS system.
- Navigate to the Settings page using the sidebar menu.
- Locate the Video Directory input field.
- Click the folder icon or manually type the absolute path to your video folder (e.g., `D:\My Broadcast Media\`).
- Click Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
The moment you save this setting, Streamly's background Auto-Scanner wakes up. It will immediately begin indexing every `.mp4` and `.mkv` file inside that folder. Depending on the size of your library, it may take a few seconds to generate all the thumbnails and calculate durations via FFprobe. You can navigate to the Gallery tab to watch your videos magically populate in real-time.
Step 3: Creating and Managing Playlists
With your video library now indexed, it's time to build a playlist. Streamly allows you to create specific run-orders so you have total control over what plays and when. The playlist system is visual and intuitive.
From the main dashboard or gallery view, look for the Select Playlist & Order button (or click the plus icon next to your stream configuration). This will open the Playlist Modal. Here, you will see a scrollable list of all your available videos, complete with thumbnails, durations, and file sizes.
- Click on any video in the list to add it to your active playlist. The item will highlight in blue, and a green badge will appear showing its exact position (e.g., `#1`, `#2`).
- To remove a video, simply click it again. The order will automatically recalculate.
- Continue selecting videos until your desired broadcast loop is complete.
- Click Save Playlist.
Remember, Streamly is designed for 24/7 operation. Once the playlist finishes the last video, it will automatically loop back to video #1 and continue broadcasting infinitely without any manual intervention.
Step 4: Setting Up the RTMP Destination
Your videos are ready, and your playlist is set. Now you must tell Streamly where to send the live broadcast. Streamly supports any platform that accepts standard RTMP or RTMPS ingests, including YouTube Live, Twitch, Facebook Gaming, Kick, or even a custom NGINX-RTMP server.
On the main streaming card on your dashboard, locate the RTMP URL and Stream Key fields. You must obtain these credentials from your streaming platform's creator dashboard.
- RTMP URL: Enter the server address (e.g., `rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2`).
- Stream Key: Paste your secret stream key. Never share this key with anyone, as it allows them to broadcast to your channel.
Step 5: Going Live and Monitoring
Before you hit the big Go Live button, double-check your encoding settings in the Settings tab. Ensure you have selected the appropriate Hardware Encoder (like NVENC for NVIDIA cards) and that your Bitrate, Resolution, and FPS match the requirements of your streaming platform (e.g., `6000` kbps, `1920x1080`, `60` fps for a standard 1080p60 Twitch stream).
Once everything is configured, navigate back to the main dashboard and click START STREAMING. Streamly will instantly spin up the FFmpeg engine, establish a connection with the RTMP server, and begin pushing your video frames.
You can monitor the health of your stream directly from the dashboard. The status indicator will turn green, and you will see the active log output detailing the encoding speed and connection stability. You can now close the interface, minimize the app to the system tray, or even walk away from the computer entirely. Streamly will handle the rest, maintaining your 24/7 channel with unwavering reliability.